Mahmood looks to be a 'champion of our legal industry' - This week in legal

The Prime Minister has outlined prison overcrowding as a key area of concern, appointing businessman and Prison Reform Trust chair James Timpson as prisons minister to tackle the issue of overcrowding as a matter of urgency, alongside new Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Shabana Mahmood is the first observant Muslim and only the second woman to assume the ancient office of lord chancellor, and will look to be a ‘champion of our legal industry’, ‘ensure our legal services are a growth sector’ and to seek a ‘renewed partnership for the legal sector’.

Those in the property industry were encouraged at plans to “get Britain building again” regarding a swathe of new homes, with new Chancellor Rt Hon Rachel Reeves committing to a housebuilding target in England of 1.5 million homes in the next five years. Meanwhile, reports from private client spaces find that the Government may lean on inheritance tax reform to ‘address inter-generational inequality’ in a leaked recording of the now Chief Secretary of the Treasury as reported by The Telegraph . The Labour Party have yet to rule out increases in inheritance tax.

?? Elsewhere in legal this week

Professor Richard Susskind?has been appointed as Special Envoy for Justice and AI to the Secretary-General of The Commonwealth, tasked with helping the 56 Commonwealth countries to achieve equal access to justice by 2030 using artificial intelligence. Susskind described recent technological advances, namely generative AI, as “the most remarkable developments in my 40 years.” Stating that AI may help provide access to justice for all.

Conveyancers have been warned by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers over post-completion work after revealing that some conveyancers are not treating it seriously despite charging clients for the work. The regulator’s 2024 risk agenda notes an increase in post-completion work not being done properly or at all and has added post-completion work as an area of concern that is being observed.

?? Work smarter, not harder

For law firms, time may be the most valuable asset, with many fee earners wishing they had more of it in a day. But when it comes to efficiency, you may be surprised to know that working more hours is not the solution. In fact, data suggests that any law firms could actually earn more by doing less!

To actually earn more by doing less, firms will need to adopt the right technology to support their fee earners. In particular, Time Capture software can help to resolve profit challenges. By reducing admin workload and making sure all billable hours get captured, Time Capture software actually pays for itself, but how fast?

While Time Capture can improve firm profits and save fee earner time, In the quest to get staff recording time, it's imperative to acknowledge that it's the human element that truly completes the equation. So, how do you get fee earners recording time?

?? Our legal insights

The shift in the legal industry brought about by AI is not just a subtle refinement but a complete overhaul. For law firms willing to adopt and adapt, the onset of AI is an opportunity to redefine their operations and services, improve efficiency, and deliver higher value to clients. With?27% of firms?already using AI tools and an additional 43% actively researching it, we investigate how AI has become a formidable force in legal work, transforming it from the inside out.

The high-powered corridors of law firms are bustling once again. Yet, the question remains — does the physical return to the office truly remedy the challenges of collaboration and productivity that many perceived with remote work? With firms being split on the office vs remote work debate down the middle, it’s time to value the effectiveness of the office as a catalyst for productivity and examine whether the digital transformation has reshaped the very definition of collaboration within the legal sector.

As the legal industry continues to evolve, we will keep you informed every step of the way.

Remember to stay up to date with the latest trends and developments. Ensuring that your law firm is secure, and your staff and clients are happy.